Ok then I admit it, I am still at Greens Lake, guilty as charged but it has been so good here I am reluctant to leave but I will be leaving this week, promise, maybe I shouldnt promise though, you will have to wait until next week to find out for sure. In the mean time you can ring ########## or text ######## to cast your vote.
A couple of personal things have happened back in my home life, one good and one bad but I didn't make it to either so I will catch up with family and friends on my return home.
Poor kiwi-as and kiwi raindow have been in dry dock and stranded at Greens Lake without their car for quite some time, Brandt rang Tuesday afternoon to see if the car was ready and was told Wednesday so I took him in to Shepparton to pick up the car, however he was told on arrival they found something else wrong so Brandt told them to fix it. Well, what to do now, so we headed off and both had a spend up didn't we.
I got some outside matting for under my awning and a new step as I didn't really like the CV slide out step fitted and what a difference the new one has made. We both got a couple off additives for our Webber Baby Qs to make things easier. It was then decided to go to the SPC outlet, something was wrong though, I didnt really need to go and Brandt was the same but somehow we thought the other one did, I blame the heat for the confusion. Never mind alls well that ends well so in other words we went to Shepparton to pick up the car and came back to the lake with half of Shepparton and NO car, mmmmm.
Its been rather hot here at the lake and we have hadquite a few low to mid 30s and Thursday got to 40+ so I was a bit, shall I say, buggered as I dont cope well with it being too hot or being in the sun for too long so kept out of the sun as much as possible and cooled off in the lake each night before going to bed. I don't venture out into the lake much during the day due to the sun and I also dont want to frighten away all the great people here with shock.
All here at the lake had a farewell Thursday night for John (yeoeleven) as he left Friday morning for the next leg of his journey, Tassie. Yep you guessed it the famous PAV made another appearance along with some fruit cake, well it was only supper!
Friday started hot already at 7.00am and was heading to mid 30s again.
Kiwi-as got his car back but needs to get a little electrical job done so they are just about ready for the next leg of their journey.
Saturday started with the locals arriving early armed with ski boats and jet skis in readiness for our weekend entertainment, oh, ok then and their fun. I noticed it wasnt as busy as the last two weekends though and more family groups, all were well behaved but there was a little noise later in the night but not too bad. They were young groups and we were all young once.
Strangely Sunday was the same as Saturday with locals. Tonight is the big Kiwi-as Camp Oven Stew again with all Grey Nomads here at the lake invited, 17, I think. Kiwi-as cooked up a magnificent stew once again followed by a sherry trifle, mmmm, did I say trifle, we all found the sherry but where was the rest of the goodies in there Brandt?
I must mention that the kitchen hand, kiwi rainbow did a wonderful job with prep work too when all of a sudden the kitchen hand announced she was on strike. I reckon both these lovely people deserve a big round of applause for their cooking skills and hospitality. They have both made a very big impact on the Grey Nomad forum members since arriving in Australia earlier this year, thankyou Brandt and Lorraine. Oh! Just in case you are wondering, the famous Pav didnt make an appearance on this occasion, it was decided earlier it wasnt needed.
We had a young group of four set up a tent on the sand next to the water and during our big dinner get together they decided to light a fire using small tree branches they came back with in the back of their ute, they must have had trouble starting the fire so in their wisdom decided to throw some diesel on to speed up the process. Yep you guessed it, up it went, fuel container and all. Black smoke filled the air the tent was very close to not being available to sleep in and their boat was right next to where they very quickly chucked the fuel container into the lake. It took these clever people about 10 minutes to realise the boat was way too close so one brave sole rushed out and rescued the boat, he then just sat on the front and watched the by now rather large bon fire. After a short time they decided to start another fire successfully. Very clever people they were. Oh well we will put that down to our nights entertainment.
As I said above I am still to leave GL to start the next leg of my journey but it will be mixed feelings on the day and I tell you that for free but I must leave as I have a doctor appointment to keep and get blood tests anda medical as I have decided to renew my bus licence, you just never know what you might come across out in the playground.
No Photos this week.
Well thats it for this update so until next time and maybe the last for this adventure anyway, enjoy what you do and,
Edit....just found out it was petrol not deisel.
-- Edited by Dougwe on Monday 3rd of December 2012 09:19:18 AM
villatranquilla said
10:10 PM Dec 3, 2012
great report Doug - am wondering if you have seen anymore of the local wildlife - slithering type that is. Cheers Barry
briche said
02:36 AM Dec 4, 2012
Hi Doug, that is a great report with some great info about the site. Looks like the tent people made a very stupid and almost deadly mistake. Please give all who are left atthe lake our best. We are now at Rye just finished setting up the van on site. Trust all stays well with you and travel safe. Catch later on down the track
Brian and Cheryl !!!!
Gerty Dancer said
03:36 AM Dec 4, 2012
So glad those tenters were only entertainment and not an emergency for you to deal with Doug! Thanks for your updates, hope the last bit of your trip goes well and all is fine at home.
kiwi rainbow said
06:23 AM Dec 4, 2012
I agree.....great update. Look forward to next weeks report. Will it include this morning's boat incident by the "fire lighters"?
neilnruth said
06:35 AM Dec 4, 2012
Well done Doug. You must have some good power there to run your computer while you write these long updates. You are obviously thoroughly enjoying your new-found lifestyle. You will be interested to hear that the friends we introduced to 'grey nomad' type lifestyle love it so much they are now trying to decide whether to rent/sell or ? and take off for 6 months next year. Just goes to show...once the bug bites.....
yeoeleven said
04:05 PM Dec 4, 2012
Well done Doug a comprehensive report, as usual.
John
Dougwe said
04:14 PM Dec 4, 2012
KR, you will have to wait like everyone else to see what " Absolute Crap" I come up with next week
N&R, I have a lead hidden under ground coming from the kiwi CV parked up behind me that they don't know about. When I get back home I will get things sorted out with the 12V wiring but I have worked out if I use the Generator from 4.00pm - 8.00pm it is giving me enough power between the in-house battery and the Jump Starter Battery so all's well for my stay here at the lake.
neilnruth said
05:48 AM Dec 5, 2012
Well done Doug. You've come to grips with the free camping. Sounds like it's the best thing you've done since leaving - apart from visiting the south coast of NSW that is!
Jack Mac said
06:06 AM Dec 5, 2012
Dougwe wrote:
KR, you will have to wait like everyone else to see what " Absolute Crap" I come up with next week
N&R, I have a lead hidden under ground coming from the kiwi CV parked up behind me that they don't know about. When I get back home I will get things sorted out with the 12V wiring but I have worked out if I use the Generator from 4.00pm - 8.00pm it is giving me enough power between the in-house battery and the Jump Starter Battery so all's well for my stay here at the lake.
Hi Doug,
I am just wondering (and this is in no wy a criticism) why do you have to run your gennie for 4 hrs a day? My sisand b-in-l have a 17" jayco, brand new with shower toilet etc and they camp for 5 days and more with no gennie, solar etc. They are not newbies, have owned caravan parks etc. and know what they are doing.
Is your gennie just for powering your laptop etc.?
cheers,
Jack
Dougwe said
04:35 PM Dec 5, 2012
Hi Jack,
I like to keep the in-house battery and Jump Starter Charged as much as possible as I am using lights, water pump, charging Lap Top, Phone etc and a little luxury of TV for an hour at night and two hours in the morning. I have been here 3 weeks now and wouldn't have lasted without the Genne as I don't have Solar YET. I am still learning as well as I go and I wouldn't look at your comment as criticism at all as all comments are welcome, even when I'm told I post "absolute C..p".
jules47 said
05:35 PM Dec 5, 2012
Doug - sounds like retirement is suiting you right down to a "t" - as far as power goes, we are all different, and handle free camping in our own way. For instance after all this time have bought a 12v charger thing for our computers - works like a dream (even though I had to swap mine with Yeoeleven, coz the one I bought didn't have a fitting to suit my HP) - got three of them from Deals Extreme for $35!!! - have sold the spare one on to another traveller. Works best when plugged whilst driving apparently.
We use our genny because we like our toast cooked in a proper toaster, which might seem extravagent, but while doing that we also charge up the phones and the laptops if we are running a bit low - suits us.
Jack Mac said
02:35 AM Dec 6, 2012
Dougwe wrote:
Hi Jack,
I like to keep the in-house battery and Jump Starter Charged as much as possible as I am using lights, water pump, charging Lap Top, Phone etc and a little luxury of TV for an hour at night and two hours in the morning. I have been here 3 weeks now and wouldn't have lasted without the Genne as I don't have Solar YET. I am still learning as well as I go and I wouldn't look at your comment as criticism at all as all comments are welcome, even when I'm told I post "absolute C..p".
Hi Doug,
Pleased you took it in the spirit intended.
I have a 12/240v fridge in my camper trailer and use solar to keep the battery topped up but a gennie is next on my wish list for the days when "the sun don't shine". I'm like you and like to have as much battery power available as possible.
Take care out there and safe and happy travels.
Cheers,
Jack
Nicholstones said
02:36 AM Dec 6, 2012
My sister and partner free camp most of the time and they have no power at all, not even a battery. They just treat their caravan as a tent, and use bottled water and lanterns and are happy as clams.
jimricho said
02:56 AM Dec 6, 2012
Nicholstones wrote:
My sister and partner free camp most of the time and they have no power at all, not even a battery. They just treat their caravan as a tent, and use bottled water and lanterns and are happy as clams.
How primative! No microwave. No satellite (or terrestial) TV. No electric jug. No hairdryer. No toaster. No hot water system. No air conditioner. OMG it must be almost unbearable!
Gerty Dancer said
10:36 PM Dec 6, 2012
Nicholstones wrote:
My sister and partner free camp most of the time and they have no power at all, not even a battery. They just treat their caravan as a tent, and use bottled water and lanterns and are happy as clams.
I remember our tenting days with great nostalgia.. we had a battery for the car fridge but thats all, and loved it! Not sure how I'd feel on a long trip nowadays though without the mod cons.
beiffe said
04:37 PM Dec 8, 2012
Horses for courses.
We are all different and we all camp differently.
I live full time and have designed my bus to allow me the comfort I need using solar and batteries.
I have not been connected to power for over 12 months and have not run a generator in that time, except for a test to check the adjustments to the charger in case I did need it as my inverter / charger is adjustable in what it will charge along with other settings.
A lot depends on the panels you have and the type and size of batteries you choose to use and the appliances etc that you want to or need to use.
The main thing in this life is to enjoy what you do and hopefully have to toys that YOU want to enjoy that life.
Regards Brian
Dougwe said
05:09 PM Dec 8, 2012
I like to have a few toys when in the palyground Brian.
Ok then I admit it, I am still at Greens Lake, guilty as charged but it has been so good here I am reluctant to leave but I will be leaving this week, promise, maybe I shouldnt promise though, you will have to wait until next week to find out for sure. In the mean time you can ring ########## or text ######## to cast your vote.
A couple of personal things have happened back in my home life, one good and one bad but I didn't make it to either so I will catch up with family and friends on my return home.
Poor kiwi-as and kiwi raindow have been in dry dock and stranded at Greens Lake without their car for quite some time, Brandt rang Tuesday afternoon to see if the car was ready and was told Wednesday so I took him in to Shepparton to pick up the car, however he was told on arrival they found something else wrong so Brandt told them to fix it. Well, what to do now, so we headed off and both had a spend up didn't we.
I got some outside matting for under my awning and a new step as I didn't really like the CV slide out step fitted and what a difference the new one has made. We both got a couple off additives for our Webber Baby Qs to make things easier. It was then decided to go to the SPC outlet, something was wrong though, I didnt really need to go and Brandt was the same but somehow we thought the other one did, I blame the heat for the confusion. Never mind alls well that ends well so in other words we went to Shepparton to pick up the car and came back to the lake with half of Shepparton and NO car, mmmmm.
Its been rather hot here at the lake and we have had quite a few low to mid 30s and Thursday got to 40+ so I was a bit, shall I say, buggered as I dont cope well with it being too hot or being in the sun for too long so kept out of the sun as much as possible and cooled off in the lake each night before going to bed. I don't venture out into the lake much during the day due to the sun and I also dont want to frighten away all the great people here with shock.
All here at the lake had a farewell Thursday night for John (yeoeleven) as he left Friday morning for the next leg of his journey, Tassie. Yep you guessed it the famous PAV made another appearance along with some fruit cake, well it was only supper!
Friday started hot already at 7.00am and was heading to mid 30s again.
Kiwi-as got his car back but needs to get a little electrical job done so they are just about ready for the next leg of their journey.
Saturday started with the locals arriving early armed with ski boats and jet skis in readiness for our weekend entertainment, oh, ok then and their fun. I noticed it wasnt as busy as the last two weekends though and more family groups, all were well behaved but there was a little noise later in the night but not too bad. They were young groups and we were all young once.
Strangely Sunday was the same as Saturday with locals. Tonight is the big Kiwi-as Camp Oven Stew again with all Grey Nomads here at the lake invited, 17, I think. Kiwi-as cooked up a magnificent stew once again followed by a sherry trifle, mmmm, did I say trifle, we all found the sherry but where was the rest of the goodies in there Brandt?
I must mention that the kitchen hand, kiwi rainbow did a wonderful job with prep work too when all of a sudden the kitchen hand announced she was on strike. I reckon both these lovely people deserve a big round of applause for their cooking skills and hospitality. They have both made a very big impact on the Grey Nomad forum members since arriving in Australia earlier this year, thankyou Brandt and Lorraine. Oh! Just in case you are wondering, the famous Pav didnt make an appearance on this occasion, it was decided earlier it wasnt needed.
We had a young group of four set up a tent on the sand next to the water and during our big dinner get together they decided to light a fire using small tree branches they came back with in the back of their ute, they must have had trouble starting the fire so in their wisdom decided to throw some diesel on to speed up the process. Yep you guessed it, up it went, fuel container and all. Black smoke filled the air the tent was very close to not being available to sleep in and their boat was right next to where they very quickly chucked the fuel container into the lake. It took these clever people about 10 minutes to realise the boat was way too close so one brave sole rushed out and rescued the boat, he then just sat on the front and watched the by now rather large bon fire. After a short time they decided to start another fire successfully. Very clever people they were. Oh well we will put that down to our nights entertainment.
As I said above I am still to leave GL to start the next leg of my journey but it will be mixed feelings on the day and I tell you that for free but I must leave as I have a doctor appointment to keep and get blood tests and a medical as I have decided to renew my bus licence, you just never know what you might come across out in the playground.
No Photos this week.
Well thats it for this update so until next time and maybe the last for this adventure anyway, enjoy what you do and,
Edit....just found out it was petrol not deisel.
-- Edited by Dougwe on Monday 3rd of December 2012 09:19:18 AM
Cheers Barry
Thanks for your updates, hope the last bit of your trip goes well and all is fine at home.
Well done Doug. You must have some good power there to run your computer while you write these long updates. You are obviously thoroughly enjoying your new-found lifestyle. You will be interested to hear that the friends we introduced to 'grey nomad' type lifestyle love it so much they are now trying to decide whether to rent/sell or ? and take off for 6 months next year. Just goes to show...once the bug bites.....
Well done Doug a comprehensive report, as usual.
John
KR, you will have to wait like everyone else to see what " Absolute Crap"
I come up with next week 
N&R, I have a lead hidden under ground coming from the kiwi CV parked up behind me that they don't know about.
When I get back home I will get things sorted out with the 12V wiring but I have worked out if I use the Generator from 4.00pm - 8.00pm it is giving me enough power between the in-house battery and the Jump Starter Battery so all's well for my stay here at the lake.
Hi Doug,
I am just wondering (and this is in no wy a criticism) why do you have to run your gennie for 4 hrs a day? My sisand b-in-l have a 17" jayco, brand new with shower toilet etc and they camp for 5 days and more with no gennie, solar etc. They are not newbies, have owned caravan parks etc. and know what they are doing.
Is your gennie just for powering your laptop etc.?
cheers,
Jack
Hi Jack,
I like to keep the in-house battery and Jump Starter Charged as much as possible as I am using lights, water pump, charging Lap Top, Phone etc and a little luxury of TV for an hour at night and two hours in the morning. I have been here 3 weeks now and wouldn't have lasted without the Genne as I don't have Solar YET. I am still learning as well as I go and I wouldn't look at your comment as criticism at all as all comments are welcome, even when I'm told I post "absolute C..p".
We use our genny because we like our toast cooked in a proper toaster, which might seem extravagent, but while doing that we also charge up the phones and the laptops if we are running a bit low - suits us.
Hi Doug,
Pleased you took it in the spirit intended.
I have a 12/240v fridge in my camper trailer and use solar to keep the battery topped up but a gennie is next on my wish list for the days when "the sun don't shine". I'm like you and like to have as much battery power available as possible.
Take care out there and safe and happy travels.
Cheers,
Jack
How primative! No microwave. No satellite (or terrestial) TV. No electric jug. No hairdryer. No toaster. No hot water system. No air conditioner. OMG it must be almost unbearable!
I remember our tenting days with great nostalgia.. we had a battery for the car fridge but thats all, and loved it! Not sure how I'd feel on a long trip nowadays though without the mod cons.
We are all different and we all camp differently.
I live full time and have designed my bus to allow me the comfort I need using solar and batteries.
I have not been connected to power for over 12 months and have not run a generator in that time, except for a test to check the adjustments to the charger in case I did need it as my inverter / charger is adjustable in what it will charge along with other settings.
A lot depends on the panels you have and the type and size of batteries you choose to use and the appliances etc that you want to or need to use.
The main thing in this life is to enjoy what you do and hopefully have to toys that YOU want to enjoy that life.
Regards
Brian